Almighty 12th Street Players
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[edit] Basic Information
The Almighty 12th Street Players (TSP) are a Chicago gang based in the city's West Side Island neighborhood. The group's members are affiliated with the People Nations of Chicago, excluding the group The Latin Counts, who have been at odds with the 12th Street Players since 1995.The 12th Street Players have been a member of the People Alliance since it's incorporation in the late 1970's. As a mostly white gang, the Players chose to side with the People Alliance, as did the Almighty Gaylords, Noble Knights, and southside Insane Popes, all gangs with a proud Stoned Greaser heritage. The only major white gang to join the mostly black and Latino Folks Alliance were the Simon City Royals.
[edit] History
Although they originated from Roosevelt and Austin, the gang had expanded into a number of different territorial areas. The early 80's saw the Players spread into Berwyn ( Freedom Park and 37th and East Ave), and in the mid-to-late 80's, into Lyons, Brookfield, Lagrange and Countryside. The Countryside crew, started in 1987 by L'il Gunner, was the only People gang being represented in the area, excluding the Latin Kings from Hodgkins, Illinois. The primary focus of the Players in Brookfield, Lagrange, and Countryside was the contention with overwhelming Folks Alliance member gangs; 2-6 (now Gangsta 2-6), 2-2 Boys, Black Gangster Disciples, and a few Simon City Royals. 1990 saw the set close, with members moving away, or showing their American pride prevalent among all Stoned Greaser gangs; joing the U.S. Military.
[edit] The People and Folk Alliances: A Brief Summary
During the late 1970's, streetgang members in Stateville Prison, Joliet, Illinois, were beginning to group together for protection behind bars. Jeff Fort, leader of the now defunct El Rukn's, formed an alliance with other black gangs to counter the Latino and white gangs, who had smaller alliances of their own. In effect, the Latin Kings, who saw the alliance of major black gangs into the Folks Unity as direct threat to themselves and the brutally fought over drug trade, decided to counter this alliance by forming one of their own. Hence the People Alliance was formed.
| People | Folks | |
|---|---|---|
| Latin Kings | Black Gangster Disciples | |
| Almighty Gaylords | Simon City Royals | |
| Vice Lords | Maniac Latin Disciples | |
| Almighty 12th Street Players | 2-2 Boys | |
| Almighty Noble Knights | Gangsta 2-6 | |
| Vice Lords | Insane Deuces |
this is no way a conclusive listing. for a more precise listing, visit [1]
[edit] Signs and Symbols
The group's colors are black and white, and their symbols are a 5-point star and a Playboy bunny. The gang also uses a top hat and a cane as symbols, which may have been adopted from their allies, the Vice Lords. The Player symbol, the bunny, should not be confused with the bunny used by Gangsta 2-6, which has one ear bent in the middle.
